In the eastern part of the Oranienbaum palace and park ensemble lies a small two-story building—the Peter III Palace, the main structure of the once-existing playful military fortress of Peterstadt. Its modest size is due to the fact that the palace was not an imperial residence, but intended solely for the future emperor's rest after military drills.
This palace is the first independent work of architect Antonio Rinaldi in Russia. Rinaldi is known for his designs of the Marble Palace in St. Petersburg and the Great Gatchina Palace.
How to Get There
You can reach the town of Lomonosov, where the palace is located, by train from the Baltic Station in St. Petersburg or by minibus from the Avtovo metro station. After exiting the metro, cross the road through the underground passage, and you’ll see the bus stop on your right.
During the winter months, the palace is open only on weekends. In the summer, it can be visited daily except on Mondays. Additionally, during the warm season, you must purchase a separate ticket to enter the park (100 rubles).
The adult ticket price for Russian citizens is 250 rubles (as of spring 2019). For citizens of other countries, the entrance fee is significantly higher.
The ticket price includes a guided tour, which is conducted based on group assembly. This means that if you visit the palace out of season, you may have to wait a bit.
A Bit of History
The palace was built between 1758 and 1762. Aside from it, only the Honorary Gates of the Peterstadt fortress remain. The other buildings were destroyed. The ceremonial halls of the palace are located on the second floor, totaling six: the entrance hall, buffet, picture gallery, study, bedroom, and boudoir. From the boudoir, a secret spiral staircase leads down.
It’s worth noting that Peter never got to enjoy the palace's interiors—the decoration of the picture gallery was completed just five days before the emperor was overthrown by his wife, Catherine II. A similar "anti-record" was set by their son, Paul I, who lived in his new residence, Mikhailovsky Castle, for only 40 days.
The palace is unique also because it suffered little during World War II. However, it should be clarified that most of the palace’s interiors are the result of restorations carried out in the 19th and 20th centuries.
You can continue your journey through history outside. There are old garden benches near the palace walls. A modern monument to Emperor Peter III was also erected here, created in 2014. Interestingly, Peter looks quite different in the depictions.
This concludes my story about the palace. If you have time, you can also visit the Great Menshikov and Chinese Palaces in Oranienbaum or simply stroll through the vast park, which is beautiful in the warm season.
In summary:
- Unique historical interiors;
- The tour is included in the ticket price;
- Convenient to combine with visits to other attractions in the palace and park ensemble.
